Returning to Yoga

It all started with the realization AGAIN that I am not in optimal health. I was declined from an insurance company for my weight, and took my blood pressure and it was high. The first thing I did was look on the internet for "ways to reduce your blood pressure naturally." So now I am doing yoga.

I returned to the "first lady of Yoga," Lilias Folan. I started with her in the 70's after buying her skinny paperback and watching her on TV.

Here's my story and I am sticking to it. I took my blood pressure at Rite Aid and it was 164/93. Freaked me out. Then I went home did 30 minutes of yoga with Lilias, and went immediately to Fred Meyers and did it again. This time 124/83. I felt so mellow and it proved I could lower my blood pressure naturally.

So I force myself down the stairs, drag my mat, and do yoga with the tv. It is difficult, but I do feel like I will get more limber and get the other benefits. I love Lilias as she starts slow but does get into some harder postures. All the while correcting and adjusting along the way. Good for me.

Box Boy at Rest at Last

Our dear cat Zorro passed this September. He lived to be 18 years old, and had outlived his 9 lives. He used them all up in many fights as well as eating a needle and thread. It was sad to see this strong fighter go. All our neighbors were amazed at his tenacious desire to be outside and bake in the nice sun. He is now resting in our Kwan Yin garden under a shizandra plant. We will miss him. Goodbye good boy.

L'Shanah Tovah - A Good Year

I have many new years in the year. This one, the Jewish New Year is very special. I like to celebrate Taschlich, and did so twice so far. With close dear friends, we go to the river and toss away the things we are wanting to cast off and also the things we are hoping to grow. We eat apples and honey to symbolize the sweet year we would like to see. It is always on the new moon of the Jewish Calendar, a new beginning.

It is with intention and ritual that this holiday happens. We need to follow tradition and we need to be in the moment. What a nice way to start the year enjoying my friends and their company. I wish that to all my friends.

Friends, Family and Fair

Since the garden tour, had a visit from Paddy, (friend) and my sister and brother-in-law, (family). Paddy raved so much about my latest art, I finally submitted my photographs to the Lane County Fair, (fair).

I have been wanting to enter something into the fair since I moved here, but it just happened this year I paid attention to the entry dates and was able to get it together in time. It was a good experience. I met up with someone from work, who was working the booth, and she gave me a pearl of wisdom. It is about competing and taking risks. "You can't win until you learn how to lose." For me its about entering, joining and taking the risks to fail. It's never to late to learn how to do new things.

The visits from friend and family were short and sweet. My sister spent most of the time at the dentists. Ouch! She was a trooper. The only thing we did besides eating was go to see "Julie and Julia" and I loved it.

Busy Weeks In Paradise

Our garden was on the Q garden tour this Saturday, and we worked for a week or two to get it in shape and it ended up looking beautiful. I have a new respect for Aggie and her vision and perseverance. WOW. I didn't know it could look this nice. The tour was part of a benefit for Basic Rights Oregon.

Sally described our garden, "Follow the charming walkway into this serene woodland garden. Shade Loving plants thrive there ...flagstone pavers form a restful patio, a relaxing hammock awaits in a quiet corner of the Quan Yin sanctuary. This woodsy garden paradise even has a gnome." Before that went camping twice once with Ag and Maya and the "Adams family", and the other with LaRosa, Basja, Nora, and Harriet. Motorhome behaved better this trip. The coast really beat the heat, infact it was cold, and the other was very beautiful right next to the McKenzie.

New Art Inspired by Friends

After coming home from the San Juan's Paddy asked me to do a picture of her in a style I had done on my journal. I did it and liked it alot. Then I decided to do Basja and then Harriet and Aggie. These all started from photos from my cell phone manipulated in various art programs.

A Trip to the Islands

Took a spontaneous trip to the San Juan Islands. Met up with Paddy and Lore whose friend had to cancel, and I got lucky. It is so enchanted there. The view is spectacular. We never wanted to leave the cabin.We did though to go to Saturday Market, go hiking, kayaaking, and of course eating.

We also got lucky and caught a concert in the park, an all women's blues band called sister wives. All was good. Very relaxing and fun.